AUVSI’s 2026 Hill Day: Industry Unites on Capitol Hill to Advance Autonomy Policy

June 25, 2026

On June 24, more than 100 industry leaders, advocates, and board members gathered in Washington, D.C. for our 2026 Hill Day, bringing the full weight of the robotics and autonomous systems industry to Capitol Hill for a day of focused, high-impact engagement. 

Across more than 90 meetings with Members of Congress and their staff, AUVSI member delegations representing the air, ground, and maritime domains made the case for policies that support U.S. leadership in autonomy. The conversations spanned industrial base competitiveness, airspace integration, BVLOS operations, counter-UAS authorities, robotics, supply chains, and procurement reform, all issues with direct consequences for both national security and economic growth. 

“Hill Day is one of the most important days on our calendar each year,” said Michael Robbins, President and CEO of AUVSI. “When more than 100 industry leaders show up on Capitol Hill in a single day, it sends an unmistakable signal to Congress about the scale and seriousness of this industry. These conversations are how we turn policy priorities into action and progress.” 

The day was anchored by two fireside chat conversations. In the morning, Robbins sat down with Rep. Eugene Vindman (D-VA) to discuss the intersection of national security, defense innovation, and the role of uncrewed aerial systems in modern warfare. “Drones have already reshaped the modern battlefield,” said Rep. Vindman. “But the U.S. is way behind on fielding drones. As a 25-year Army veteran representing more than 36,000 service members, I’m laser focused on making sure our troops have low-cost, easy to use, attritable drones for the next fight. We need to build and acquire these at scale, while making sure our warfighters know how to use them well. I will continue to push for action with the urgency our military needs.” 

At midday, Senator Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) joined Robbins for a conversation on how Congress can support autonomy sector innovation while advancing shared priorities around security and domestic manufacturing. “It was great to join my fellow Michigander, Michael Robbins, and the AUVSI delegation in an important conversation about growing America’s tech innovation and manufacturing base, securing supply chains for autonomous systems and robotics, keeping Chinese vehicles out of our country, and how drones can be used for new things like farming and search and rescue,” said Senator Slotkin. “These conversations are vital for our national security and Michigan’s economic security.”

Below is a closer look at the policy priorities our members brought to the Hill. 

 Airspace & Drone Policy 

• Finalize BVLOS Rulemaking: Congress should hold the FAA accountable to finalizing Parts 108 and 146, with a workable transition pathway for existing operations and reasonable security provisions. 
• Advance the Aviation Innovation and Global Competitiveness Act: AUVSI members pushed to bring greater certainty to FAA’s type certification process for new aviation technologies including eVTOL and AAM aircraft. 
• Pass the American Drone Manufacturing Dominance Act: AUVSI members urged lawmakers to phase out adversary-made drones from law enforcement and public safety missions and fund domestic procurement and manufacturing. 
• Hold the Line on the American Security Drone Act: AUVSI members called on Congress to ensure the Executive Branch establishes and enforces a government-wide prohibition on procurement of UAS manufactured or assembled by adversarial nations, with third-party validation. 
• Expand Counter-UAS Funding: Congress should increase DHS funding for counter-UAS grants and bolster Byrne JAG and COPS programs so law enforcement can procure American-made detection and mitigation technologies. 

Advanced Air Mobility 

• Advance the Aviation Innovation and Global Competitiveness Act: AUVSI members pushed to bring greater certainty to FAA’s type certification process for new aviation technologies including eVTOL and AAM aircraft. 
• Accelerate the eVTOL Integration Pilot Program: AUVSI members called on Congress to ensure the FAA moves quickly on all eight selected eIPP projects to complete program appendices and begin operations. 
• Fund AAM Infrastructure: Congress should fully fund the AAM Infrastructure Pilot Program to help airports plan and build the vertiport infrastructure necessary to support commercial AAM operations. 

Domestic Manufacturing & Supply Chain 

• Permanence for Blue UAS and Green UAS: AUVSI members urged Congress to establish the Blue UAS and Green UAS programs as permanent pathways for allied-made systems and components to remain eligible for sale in the United States. 
• Pass the Make More in America Act: Congress should advance legislation expanding the capability of the Export-Import Bank to help grow strategic American industries, including robotics, drones, shipbuilding, critical sensing technologies, and critical minerals.  
• Pass the Magnets Value Chain Support Act: AUVSI members called on Congress to advance legislation creating tax incentives across the rare-earth magnet supply chain to reduce dependence on Chinese-controlled inputs critical to autonomous systems across all domains. 

Ground Autonomy & Robotics 

• Establish a National Robotics Commission: AUVSI members called on Congress to pass the National Commission on Robotics Act, creating a bipartisan commission to deliver whole-of-government recommendations on U.S. robotics strategy across defense, workforce, and supply chain. 
• Pass the GUARD Act: AUVSI members urged lawmakers to advance legislation directing a national security agency to evaluate humanoid and quadruped robotic systems from countries of concern, restricting those that pose unacceptable risk from sale in the United States. 
• Pass the Connected Vehicle Security Act: AUVSI members urged Congress to advance legislation addressing national security risks from connected vehicles designed, developed, or manufactured by entities linked to foreign adversaries. 
• Pass the HUMANOID Robot Act: AUVSI members pushed for legislation protecting Americans from national security risks posed by foreign-adversary humanoid robotic systems through targeted procurement restrictions and oversight mechanisms. 
• Pass the American Security Robotics Act: AUVSI members pushed for legislation prohibiting federal procurement of uncrewed ground vehicles manufactured by foreign adversaries, particularly those tied to China. 
• Pass the SAFE LiDAR Act: AUVSI members urged Congress to phase out Chinese-made LiDAR sensors from federally connected systems and incentivize domestic alternatives, preventing the CCP from exploiting a technology central to autonomous systems across every domain. 

Uncrewed Maritime Systems 

• Secure Stable UMS Funding: AUVSI members called on Congress to allocate a defined portion of Navy operational and modernization funding for uncrewed maritime systems, enabling multi-year planning, production scaling, and sustained industrial base growth. 
• Pass the SHIPS for America Act: AUVSI members pushed lawmakers to advance legislation creating a Maritime Security Trust Fund, modernizing shipyards, expanding the U.S.-flagged fleet, and explicitly including uncrewed systems within its scope. 
• Modernize Export Controls: AUVSI members urged Congress to reform USML Categories VI and XX to remove barriers on non-military commercial systems used for survey, search, salvage, and scientific missions. 
• Expand USCG Authorities: AUVSI members called on lawmakers to update Coast Guard policies to support UMS testing, pilot programs, and cybersecurity enforcement, while promoting consistency in how USCG Sectors and Districts treat uncrewed operations. 

Defense & National Security 

• Restrict Foreign Adversary Systems from DoW: AUVSI members urged Congress to advance NDAA provisions prohibiting DoW procurement and use of robotic and autonomous systems produced, developed, or controlled by foreign adversaries, including connected vehicles on military installations. 
• Increase Military UAS Procurement: AUVSI members called on Congress to significantly increase funding for military procurement of UAS, vertical lift aircraft, and counter-UAS systems across all branches, directing investments toward dual-use systems to help industry scale production and reduce costs. 
• Secure the Defense Industrial Base: AUVSI members called on Congress to allocate sustained, multi-year funding for uncrewed systems across air, ground, and maritime domains, prioritizing dual-use acquisition to strengthen both defense readiness and commercial industrial capacity. 

AUVSI’s 2026 Hill Day reaffirmed what drives our advocacy year-round. American leadership in autonomy depends on proactive, sustained engagement between industry and government. More than 90 meetings happened on the Hill, each one grounded in real-world experience and a shared understanding of what is at stake. 

We are grateful to the more than 100 members who came to Washington to represent this industry, and to the Members of Congress who opened their doors for substantive, forward-looking discussions. We extend our thanks to Rep. Vindman and Senator Slotkin for their time and engagement, and for their continued commitment to getting autonomy policy right. 

AUVSI and our members will continue working with lawmakers, federal agencies, and industry partners to advance the policies that ensure uncrewed and autonomous systems are safely integrated and delivering real benefits to the economy, to national security, and to the American people.